A day for winners – McMinnville Jaycees hold Spring Olympics
?Let me win; but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.?
? the Special Olympics creed
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In the modern world of sport, with records being shattered on a yearly basis and athletes stretching their professionally shaped bodies to the peak of human performance, sometimes the sheer joy of being able to take part in a game is lost.
And too often, it seems, we forget that the bravery needed to compete is just as important, if not more so, than victory.
Saturday morning at Nunley Stadium, a special group of athletes gave their all, and came away with victories not only on the track and in the field, but victories of the spirit, as well.
The McMinnville Jaycees held their annual Spring Olympics Saturday, and while the group of men and women participating was certainly striving for victory, one needed only to see the courage they displayed in competing ? and the happiness brought on by participating ? to understand that everyone was a winner.
?It really was a magical day,? said Jaycees president Brad McGregor, whose club has been holding the event for over two decades. ?I?ve been involved with our Spring Olympics for several years, and it?s just an awesome, not just for them, but for us, too.
?I was sitting there on Saturday watching how happy everyone was to be participating, no matter what their special needs might be, and just seeing that brings a smile to your face. The joy that it brings these people is just beyond description. It puts a lot of things in perspective, that?s for sure.?
Athletes took part in three events at Saturday?s games ? the softball throw, broad jump and 50-yard dash ? and were rewarded for their efforts in each event with an awards ceremony complete with an Olympic-style podium.
As it turned out, every athlete competing in Saturday?s events got at least one chance to climb onto the podium, and show off their awards to the crowd.
But before the first ribbon was awarded, they were already winners.
The 2007 Spring Olympics were sponsored by: CiCi?s Pizza, TT&G Construction, Dr. Stanley Martin, Communications Evolutions, Jerry C. Greene?s Nursery, Good Earth Tree Co., K.P. Remodeling, Dr Pepper, Riverside Customs, Tim?s Motors, General Equipment Co., Free Bird Bail Bonds, Mary Roller, Horizon Express, Red?s Custom and Amplified Audio.